Game.



A. F. KNIGHT.-

' GAME.

(Applationjled Feb. `1S, 19.02.)

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l UNITED STATES PATENT Ormes.

ARTHUR F. KNIGHT, OF SOHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- EIGHTH TOALEXANDER F. MACDONALD, OF SCHENEOTADY, NElV YORK.

GAME.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N o. '71 1,979, datedOctober 28, 1902.

Application led February 13. 1902. Serial No. 93,827. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to games of amusement, and has for its object toprovide an apparatus of relatively small size and such construction thata game resembling golf in certain aspects may be played indoors and inmore or less restricted quarters.

The scope of my invention will be more fully set forth and claimedhereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, which represent an embodiment of myinvention, Figure l is a plan View of a table or support equipped with asheet of flexible material on which the game is played. Fig. 2 is an endView of a bunker. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the arrows Vand thepieces or rings containing the holes for the disk or ball secured `tothe upper surface of the flexible sheet. Fig. 4 is a detail view showinga means for securing the sheet in place. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a diskor ball with which the game is played, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of theclub or actuator for moving the disk.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A represents a table or support.The average dining-table will be found to be about the proper size whenone or two leaves are inserted. Spread on top of this table or supportis a sheet B, of some fibrous flexible materialsuch as lcloth or paper,for example. Canvas or -duck, as it is commonly called, will be found tobe very satisfactory for the cheaper apparatus; but for the moreexpensive a billiard or similar cloth can be used. The sheet of flexiblematerial is preferably colored to prevent soiling. Green will be foundto be a very satisfactory shade and is agreeable to the eyes. The sheetB is made of fibrous flexible material, so that it may be more easilyhandled and put away after the gaine andbecause it can be arranged tooccupy a comparatively small space. Between games, where the sheet hasto be removed from the table, it is preferably rolled, so as not to formany decided creases in the playing-surface, it being preferable that thesame should lie perfectly lfiat on its support.

can of course be folded, if desired. The sheet is cut to any desireddimensions. One live feet long by three feet wide is satisfactory foruse with the average dining-table; but the size can be varied to suitthe conditions. In event of printing the various characters upon thesheet it will be found advan-Y tageous to do this with a large roll thecircumference of which is equal to the length of the cloth and isprovided with the necessary characters. By this arrangement the printingcan be done before the sheets are cut to size. The stenciling can ofcoul-sehe done before or after the sheets are cut. The term hole is usedherein as indicating a goal and is used in the same sense as in theregular game of golf.

The object in making the parts as described is so as not to interferewith the rolling or folding of the sheet when not in use. The arrows Care employed both to indicate the direction of vplay and also to serveas tees. On each putting-green is stenciled or stitched a ring D, havinga central space or opening which constitutes the hole or goal.

Situated in the line of play from certain of the tees to thecorresponding holes are detachable hazards or bunkers E of any suitablecharacter and form and which are preferably printed in a manner topresent a contrast to thesheet B. In the present instance they are shownas being made of wood and are triangular in cross-section. By thisarrangement a substantial base is provided, yet the bunker as a wholelooks small on account of the thin top edge. The bunker may be placedeither with the vertical side facing the tee from which the play starts,or vice versa. The former arrangement is a good one. At the time thearrows, dac., are printed, stenciled, or stitched on the surface of thesheet marks of some sort should be made on the sheetto indicate thearrangement of the haz; ards or bunkers. Such an indication is found inthe dotted line F,.Fig. l. Themarrangement oflounkers I have found to besatisfactory; but they may be altered as to shape and location withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. As an additional hazard twodotted lines G are made on the sheet, which may indicate a road, river,or other obstacle, and when the playing-disk lands in such a positionthat it projects a certain distance over one or both lines the player ispenalizedsuch, for example, as losing a stroke.

In experimenting with the apparatus I have found that the playing disksor balls are liable when the sheetAis relatively hard and rests directlyon its support to jump too far at each stroke. To avoid this objection,a pad or cushion H is placed between the sheet and the support. blanketmade of canton-flannel will be found satisfactory for this purpose. Thethicker the pad the shorter will be the distance traversed by the diskat each average stroke.

When the cloth has been rolled or folded for some time, it does notalways present a smooth even appearance, and in order to obviate thisholding means of novel form are provided. Stitched to the four cornersof the sheet and at other places, if desired, are hooks or rings I, andslipped through each hook or ring in a manner to secure it is an elasticband or string J. The string or band is then passed under the corner ofthe table. A rubber band is to be preferred, as it will cling toA thewoodwork of the table, even though highly polished. When the apparatusis used on a round table, the strings or bands may be attached toweights. The strings or elastic bands also serve to hold the pad inplace.

In playing the game a thin disk or ball, made of bone, wood, or somesimilar material, may be employed, and the diameter is preferably lessthan the opening in the rings D or in the piece K. lIn order to preventit from rolling edgewise, it may be found to be advantageous to mutilateit, as by cutting off a slice on one side. The disk is preferablyperforated, as indicated at M, so that the inner circle of the ring D,which indicates the hole, can be observed through it.

In order to actuate the playing-disk, a thin piece of bone, hard wood,or some similar piece of material is used. Such a piece is indicated byN in Fig. 6, which may be eircular in outline or provided with straightsides. It is preferable to have at least one rounded edge for engagementwith the disk, and two or more surfaces Will be found convenient. Inplaying the game the disk L, which constitutes the ball, lies iiat onthe flexible sheet B. The player then takes the thin piece of bone orclub N and holding it so as to slant backward slightly presses itdownward and at the same time moves it off of the disk backward withrespect to the direction of play. When properly done, the action causesthe disk L to jump forward in the direction of a hole. It is intendedthat a number of strokes or plays shall be required to make the diskmove from the tee to a given hole, the object being to make as fewstrokes as possible. In so far as it is possible the usual rules of golfmay be applied, and to meet the other conditions special rules may beformulated. When the printed, stenciled, or flexible rings are employedto indicate the hole, the disk or ball The ordinary tablewill beconsidered ,holed when any portion of the space within' the ring showsthrough the perforation M. To make the game simpler,-the ball may beconsidered holed when any portion of it is Within the outer edge of thering or when one edge of the disk projects over the edge of the inner ycircle or surface of the ring.

The holes are numbered from 1. to 9, inclusive, and in starting the gamethe disk or ball L is placed on the tee O in the upper left-hand corner.It is then advanced to hole l by a series of jumps more or less greatuntil it is iinally holed at 1. The disk or ball is then placed on thearrow located directly back of the hole and the action repeated, theposition of the arrow, as well as the number on the next hole,indicating the direction of the next play. The number of players engagedat any one time can be varied as desired, and the one making the leastnumber of strokes for the entire course of play wins.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

l. In combination, a sheet of flexible material arranged for a game,means indicating holes or goals permanently affixed thereto, devices onsaid sheet angularly disposed with respect to each other and the edgesof the sheet and permanently affixed thereto for indicating the positionof hazards, and detachable hazards arranged on the sheet at the placesindicated by said devices.

2. In combination, a sheet of flexible ma-` alixed thereto, anddetachable hazards arranged on the sheet at the places indicated by saiddevices.

3. In combination, a sheet of flexible material, a separable pad orcushion therefor, flexible devices indicating holes permanently affixedto the sheet, other flexible devices indicating the position of hazardsalso permanently affixed thereto, detachable hazards, and means whichserve as tees and indicate the directions of the lines of play.

4:. In combination, a sheet of flexible material, flexible ringspermanently afxed thereto which indicate holes, fiexible devices alsopermanently aixed thereto which indicate the positions of the hazards,detachable hazards, arrows which indicate the lines of play and alsoserve as tees, a pad or cushion which is situated under the sheet and isseparable therefrom, and a means common to thesheet and pad for holdingthem on a support.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand this llth day of February,1902.

` ARTHUR F. KNIGHT. WVitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. I-IULL, GENEVIEVE HAYNES.

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